Use of the dry chemistry “Reflotron” blood analyzer under outdoor-field conditions in veterinary medicine.

The research paper investigates the use of a portable blood analyzer known as Reflotron in outdoor field conditions, to provide immediate patient-side analysis for veterinary use in horses. The study establishes the viability of using Reflotron as a valid on-the-spot, diagnostic tool.

Background and Objective of the Study

• The authors discuss the importance of “bed-side” patient analysis typically implemented in human medicine and aim to adapt this concept for veterinary medicine.
• The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Reflotron blood analyzer for outdoor and in-field diagnostics in veterinary medicine, particularly for horse blood analysis.

Methodology

• The Reflotron device was used to analyze horse blood under both indoor and outdoor conditions v/s a traditional machine—the Cobas Bio analyzer.
• Conditions for the study were varied – The Reflotron was powered using an on-farm electricity source when available, and otherwise a gas-operated generator was used, demonstrating its versatility in different operational scenarios.

Results

• The results were promising, as all analyzing values from the Reflotron under different conditions showed close agreement with no significant differences.
• Positive correlation coefficients (r values around 0.9000) were observed between all methods used, indicating a high level of reliability and accuracy for the Reflotron analyzer.

Conclusion and Implications

• The data supports the adaptation of the Reflotron system for outdoor-field, patient-side blood analysis in veterinary medicine.
• This would provide the veterinarian with immediate blood parameters, enabling a faster, more complete diagnosis without the need for laboratory facilities.
• The successful implementation of Reflotron in field conditions signaled its potential use in other challenging environments and situations, expanding the capacity for rapid and effective veterinary care.